Dark day for Arizona's Family

[ykw]

"Your Life A to Z" and similar housewife shows in the Rita Davenport tradition are the closest thing on the air today. I'm still surprised to this day that that type of show is still on the air. There aren't as many stay-at-home moms as there used to be in my parents' generation. And how many of them are watching that kind of show?

Not many. But you have to understand what those shows are. They aren't news or information shows in any meaningful sense; they're infomercials, the "guests" actually paying to appear. Those guests aren't there to impart information in some public-service fashion; they're there to promote their services or products.

As such, ratings don't matter nearly so much, as the programs themselves are revenue raisers. The better the ratings are, of course, the more the station can extract from those wanting to pimp their wares, but small audiences areen't gonna kill the show, either.

 

[youn]

Would be interesting to know how much contract Dan and Brad had left. Also, wonder if the companies decision was based/helped on both of them having projects going on the outside.

As for Bruce, man you can almost feel his disdain for being grounded, but he does have a contract. May be wrong.

 

[formeraa]

Youn --

I think you hit the nail on the head! I'm sure that contract status played a large part in the decision-making. Also, the fact that Perry and Davis are supporting cast members probably made a big difference. However, I'm still surprised that the cutbacks hit GMAZ so hard. Isn't GMAZ still #1 or 2 in the am ratings? Why would they make such drastic changes to their most popular show? ???

 

[ihEARDtHAT]

However, I'm still surprised that the cutbacks hit GMAZ so hard.

In the last round of layoffs, it was the evening shows that were hit hard. I think if you look at the lineup of crew on GMAZ, Dan and Brad were expendible. Tara is the host, Scott is the in-studio newsreader, April does weather, Javier is the field reporter and Olivia is the early host who can also be sent in the field if needed when Tara arrives. When Olivia departs for Las Vegas next month, Tess Rafols is rumored to move over from weekends to take her spot on GMAZ.

As for Bruce, I'm at a loss as to why he is still around. His primary role is helicopter pilot and without a helicopter, why is he needed? Unless he has only a short time left on his contract and they are keeping him on the payroll while he looks for other positions since he has been around for some time with 3TV.

TVSpy.com Shoptalk is reporting that 16 staffers were let go last week and 3 demotions in the news department.

 

[formeraa]

iHeardThat --

You make a good point. I've always thought that GMAZ had a large staff, although I assumed (possibly incorrectly) that a lot of Brad's appearances were "paid" for.

KING/5 in Seattle, a similar-sized market, does 4.5 hours of morning news with only 2 anchors, 1 weather, a traffic reporter, and 1 live reporter. Occasionally, they will have a second reporter reporting live from the "satellite center". Until recently (when the am news moved up to 4:30am), the KING anchors used to anchor the hour long noon newscast as well!!!

I always wondered how GMAZ got away with having such a large staff, except that it did really well in the ratings and a lot of paid spots.

 

[powergate92]

KING/5 in Seattle, a similar-sized market, does 4.5 hours of morning news with only 2 anchors, 1 weather, a traffic reporter, and 1 live reporter. Occasionally, they will have a second reporter reporting live from the "satellite center". Until recently (when the am news moved up to 4:30am), the KING anchors used to anchor the hour long noon newscast as well!!!

Sounds like KING morning news is the same way GMAZ is now as today GMAZ had Scott Pasmore and Tara Hitchcock anchors, April Warnecke weather, Bruce Haffner traffic reporter/live reporter and Olivia Fierro live reporter.